The Magic of Missteps
Who wants to make mistakes? Nobody, right? We'd all prefer smooth sailing and instant success. Yet when we stop expecting perfection, we find the real magic is in the missteps. In this video, watch Arty attempt to do what I asked of him (“Sit”). A gallant effort that spit that stool right out from under him!
Now there’s a thought ~
Our mistakes are the magic behind the tricks. What do we mean? One definition of magic is “an extraordinary power or influence seemingly from a supernatural source”. Sounds a lot like dog training, doesn’t it? When working with our dogs, our “extraordinary power” is a mix of voice, hand-signals and tasty doggie treats. We use all three to coax our dog into motion. I ask Arty to “SIT,” he hears the request, it rattles around in his brain, and then POOF—he sits! Except this time, the yellow stool rockets behind him. Somewhere in the exchange, we had a misfire.
Think of mistakes as a misfire, whether in the asking or in the execution. Mistakes deserve far more appreciation than we usually give them. They give us the chance to regroup, figure out where it went wrong, and then work at it again. We need to build on a solid and level foundation. One where Arty feels safe enough to try again. Because when (not if) there are mistakes? That’s where the real magic happens.
To revisit a mistake takes guts. It’s not easy to look at where we slipped up—or let others see it. (Although in Arty’s case, watching that stool shoot out behind him sure is fun!) When he missed the mark, I had to adjust my approach to make it more clear for Arty to understand. This is the first bit of magic: Clarity.
Clarity shows us how to adjust, but Perspective shows us why the effort is worth it. When we can't see fast results, looking back shows how far we've come. Seeing that clear view fuels our drive to keep working at it.
Beyond Clarity and Perspective, mistakes build true Character. When things go wrong or fall apart, it’s easy to throw in the towel. Doing the hard work of finding out what actually happened is not easy. We get embarrassed or feel regret when we make mistakes. It’s these awkward moments that build character.
And the best magic of all? Laughter! Arty makes this part easy. Laughing through the chaos instantly diffuses the tension, making it much easier to dust yourself off & try again. When Arty sent that stool flying, his tail kept wagging the entire time because mistakes were just part of the fun. After plenty of practice, Mr. Smarty Arty can now with confidence “Take a Seat”. (You can see more of the training process in his previous blog Take A Seat!)
If Arty has taught us anything, it’s that mistakes aren't failures. They are just unexpected invitations to meet our slipups with the magic of courage, clarity and resilience.
So, you have it straight from one who had the gumption to share a mistake with you 🐾🐾When bumps in the road come, give yourself grace, laugh it off, and enjoy every (mis)step of the journey together. With those moments in the rearview mirror, the only place to look is forward!
From Arty’s POV, looking forward sees the BEST reward — a little bit of cheese from his “supernatural source” …. me!
“Sometimes what would look to be my biggest mistakes turn out to be my biggest blessings.” ~Dolly Parton
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